BATANGAS – Sixteen factory workers were hospitalized after they were accidentally showered with a toxic chemical while inside a pipe at the Central Azucarera Don Pedro plant in Nasugbu town on Good Friday, police said.
Senior Supt. Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas police director, identified the victims as Hernando Caraig, 54; Joemart Barrio, 18; Rommel Vecinal, 17; Edwin Sanchez, 32; Jason Caraig, 21; Avelino Malarayap, 54; Marvin Dela Cruz; Dexter Caraig, 21; Noriel Caraig, 27; Jeffrey Barion, 18; Albert Caraig, 31; Ariel Caraig, 28; Arnel Caraig, 31; Lester Caraig, 24; Leandro Caraig, 26; and Jun Unas, 33, all residents of Brgy. Putat, Nasugbu, Batangas.
According to reports, the maintenance workers were inside a huge steam pipe to clean its interior walls when the incident happened around 7 p.m.
Police said the inner portion of the pipe has two cylinders that sprinkle water and caustic soda simultaneously during a remote-controlled cleaning operation.
Witnesses said one of the workers, identified as Mario dela Cuesta, inadvertently turned on the valves of the sprinklers, showering the 16 people inside the pipe with toxic caustic soda.
All victims suffered burns in their faces and different parts of their bodies. They were rushed to the Western Batangas Medical Center in Balayan town for treatment.
Dela Cuesta escaped after the incident.
Police are still conducting an investigation, but they are now initially concluding that the incident was accidental. –Arnell Ozaeta, ABS-CBN News Southern Tagalog
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
